tiên sư

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 先師.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tiən˧˧ sɨ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tiəŋ˧˧ ʂɨ˧˧] ~ [tiəŋ˧˧ sɨ˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [tiəŋ˧˧ ʂɨ˧˧] ~ [tiəŋ˧˧ sɨ˧˧]

Noun

(classifier bậc, vị, đấng) tiên sư

1. (uncommon) the intellectuals of the old days; the "old master"
2. (honorific) progenitor of a particular craftsmanship

Interjection

tiên sư

1. (Northern Vietnam, offensive) used in insults

   Synonyms: tổ cha, tổ sư